MD Defines 'Domestic Partners'

An Associated Press news report said legislators
approved by a 12-to-4 vote, a definition that domestic
partners were generally people over 18 “in a committed
relationship of mutual interdependence” for at least six
months.

The panel of lawmakers signed off Thursday on the
domestic partner definition as part of a 2007 law
requiring health insurers to offer domestic partner
benefits. The Maryland Insurance Administration was
required to define domestic partners in that law,
according to the AP.

“The bigger (gay marriage) issue is still out there
and I think will remain out there,” said Delegate Anne
Healey, in the news report. “There’s not enough support
to change the status quo one way or the other.”

Four Republicans on the committee insisted that
domestic partnerships should be defined by insurers, not
the state, and voted against the plan. They were joined
by two opponents who testified against approval of the
definition.